CA
USA 
With so many dog shows happening all over Canada, especially in Toronto, Ontario, Calgary, and Mississauga, it’s hard to resist the temptation of presenting your dog in front of the public. If you’ve decided to sign up your dog for a show, you need to get ready since these events have strict criteria your pooch has to fulfill to be considered eligible for participating.
If you’ve never participated in a dog show, the preparation process may be a bit more difficult than you thought. So, here are 5 tips to help you prepare your dog for a dog show more easily.
Training Is a Must
The first and most important thing in preparing your dog for a dog show is training. No matter how obedient your dog is, you need to make sure they behave accordingly in order to win the judges.
The best way to train your dog is by attending training classes. These classes are led by professional dog trainers or breeders, so your dog will learn from the best. More importantly, they’ll teach you the basics of how to present your dog on the show, such as how to stack your dog for examination, gait them around the ring, and perform the basic patterns, such as down and back, the “L”, and the triangle.
A Healthy Diet Is Important
A healthy diet is very important when preparing your dog for a dog show. High-quality food provides them with all essential nutrients for optimal health and performance and ensures they don’t gain unnecessary weight. You can also add supplements, like fish oil, to make your dog’s coat healthy and shiny.
Go Back to the Basics
We’re sure your dog has learned the commands by heart, but it’s recommended to repeat them before the show. It will help you during the training, especially when it comes to giving them more demanding commands such as “roll over and sit” or “jump”.
Socializaion, Socializaion, Socializaion
Socialization is very important for your dog because it helps them get used to the presence of other people and dogs. Being comfortable among “strangers” and in a setting different from the one your dog is used to improves their performance on the stage. After all, they will walk on a stage in front of many unknown people and they need to be confident when they do.
Prepare your dog for this fame by exposing them to new people, places, situations, surfaces (cement, carpet, rubber, linoleum), etc. You can even take them to dog socialization classes to help them feel relaxed around other dogs.
Good Looks Impress Judges
Make sure you groom and clean your dog before the show to fascinate the judges. They prefer good-looking and clean dogs, so you need to make sure yours looks the best they can. Take your dog to a groomer to trim their nails and sculpt their hair, especially if it’s a long-haired breed, and bathe them a day before the show to ensure they are in top condition for the show.
Final Words
Preparing your dog for a dog show may seem difficult at first. However, it’s achievable if you know how to do it. Start with training classes, go over the basic commands, feed your dog with nutritious food, socialize them, and make sure they look their best on the big day. Both you and your beloved furry friend will enjoy the dog show!